Genetics can help track the scattering of humans across the globe. But do scientists have the right to study any DNA they want to?

A century of cortical cartography has helped neurologists understand how the human brain perceives and interprets our complex surroundings.

The geometry of a world map is remarkably similar to the geometry of spacetime. Science educators are exploring maps as models for teaching Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

Humans have been piecing together an atlas of the heavens for millennia. The advent of gravitational wave astronomy means we can now listen to the rhythms of the cosmos and map uncharted territory.

Maps drawn by the US government in the 1930s made racial segregation an official promise of public policy. Those maps, and the policies they underpinned, paved the way for today’s segregated cities – and ongoing environmental degradation for Black Americans.

All of our experiences are mapped out by our brains, from fond holiday memories to our worst trips to the dentist. But when it comes to the stories we consume, there are special connections at play.